The making of F1’s record-breaking teenager, Max Verstappen

Despite his record-breaking achievements, Max Verstappen remains something of an unknown quality outside of racing circles. The 18-year-old star, who drives for Red Bull Racing, is the son of former Formula One driver Jos Verstappen – and is the new name on everyone’s lips.

Verstappen sealed his place in Formula One history in Barcelona at the weekend, becoming the youngest race winner in the sport’s history at the Spanish Grand Prix. The victory represents the latest and most impressive landmark in Verstappen’s burgeoning career. Here, we take a look at the teenage talent who could turn the Formula One world on its head.

The ability and courage needed to drive a race car seems to run in the blood. First, there were the likes of Graham and Damon Hill, Gilles and Jacques Villeneuve and Keke and Nico Rosberg – now it’s Jos and his son Max Verstappen.

But with Max, the family links do not end there. His mother, Sophie Kumpen, competed in karting, and his uncle, Anthony Kumpen, is currently a NASCAR Whelen Euro Series driver.

By the age of 17, Verstappen was considered capable of driving a fearsome-looking Formula One car around a racetrack, yet he did not obtain a driver’s licence until his 18th birthday.

Of course, new rules in the sport mean a driver can no longer compete until the age of 18. And as a result, Verstappen’s record as the youngest-ever race winner, aged 18 years and 228 days, is likely to prove to be incredibly tough to beat.

Verstappen already featured in the record books before this weekend, having previously become the youngest driver to compete in Formula One at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix for Toro Rosso, aged 17 years and 166 days. The Belgian-Dutch driver is also the youngest man to have led a lap during a Formula One Grand Prix and the youngest driver to secure a podium finish.

What’s more, he is the only Dutchman to have won a Formula One race, meaning he has already surpassed his father’s career in the sport despite still being a teenager.

Despite his eye-catching success, the decision to promote Verstappen to the Red Bull team at the expense of Daniil Kvyat was greeted with a mixed reaction. The move to demote Kvyat was taken after he was involved in crashes with Sebastian Vettel in two consecutive races.